PORTLAND, Ore. – Following a three-game road stint, T2 return home to face the Austin Aztex at Merlo Field in Portland, on Sunday; kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (Pacific). Sunday’s match marks T2’s first home match at Merlo Field since May 22, a span of more than three weeks.
T2 (4-6-2, 14pts) are eighth overall in the Western Conference and have played eight of their 12 USL matches on the road so far this season. In their last match, T2 conceded twice in the first half of a 3-1 loss against fellow USL expansion side Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Wednesday at Sand Creek Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. T2’s Brent Richards tallied his first goal of the season in the 84th minute, but Portland was unable to overcome an early first-half brace by Colorado Springs forward Miguel Gonzalez. Through 12 matches this season, forward Kharlton Belmar has scored six goals and ranks tied for fourth in goals among all USL players. Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson ranks second overall in saves with 41 through 10 games played.
Austin Aztex (5-6-1, 16pts) enter Sunday’s match following a 1-0 win over the reigning USL champions, Sacramento Republic FC, on June 6 at Bonney Field in Sacramento, Calif. The win ended a three-game slide for the Aztex and marked their fourth clean sheet of the season. Austin is tied for the third-most shutouts in the league (4) through 12 games played. Forward Kris Tyrpak is tied for fourth in goals (6) and ranks tied for eighth in points (13). Goalkeeper Devin Perales ranks tied for second in the league in save percentage (.778) with 21 saves, third in goals-against average (0.86) and is tied for fourth in shutouts (3).
Beginning with Sunday’s match, T2 will play three of their next four matches at home, including contests against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Monday, June 29, and Arizona United SC on Thursday, July 2, at Merlo Field.
Tickets for Sunday’s T2 match are available online by clicking here. Additionally, Sunday’s home match will also be carried on a live, high-definition web stream on www.timbers2.com.
Following Sunday’s match, T2 take to the road to face Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 for the first time this season at UBC Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, June 21; kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Pacific).
